Institutions and Leadership: Berlusconi in Historical Perspective

The Berlusconi phenomenon has been interpreted by many as one of the most recent examples of the autocratic, plebiscitary leadership of which Bonapartism provided the first historical instance, and that, in Italian history, was incarnated in its clearest form by Benito Mussolini. Berlusconi, according to these interpreters, has provided a much updated version of the bonapartist model – a "soft", unobtrusive, twenty-first century authoritarianism based on television –, while at the same time having deep roots in a traditional Italian penchant for strong leaders. Here Berlusconi's leadership will be explained by treading a different path. Berlusconi, as many other Italian leaders before him, should not be explained just on the basis of Italian cultural traits (the existence of which is then circularly demonstrated by the role that leadership has played in Italian history), but as the consequence of institutional failure – in Berlusconi's case, the failure of political parties. This perspective makes it relatively easy to make sense of his success and resilience, that have so often baffled scholars in and outside Italy. It also allows to gain a deeper understanding of the most relevant features of Berlusconi's leadership, and of the political message that was implicit in it.